diff --git a/pkg/reconciler/internal/values/values.go b/pkg/reconciler/internal/values/values.go
index 28d23438..cddcd0e6 100644
--- a/pkg/reconciler/internal/values/values.go
+++ b/pkg/reconciler/internal/values/values.go
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/operator-framework/helm-operator-plugins/pkg/values"
 )
 
+var DefaultMaxReleaseHistory = 10
+
 var DefaultMapper = values.MapperFunc(func(v chartutil.Values) chartutil.Values { return v })
 
 var DefaultTranslator = values.TranslatorFunc(func(ctx context.Context, u *unstructured.Unstructured) (chartutil.Values, error) {
diff --git a/pkg/reconciler/reconciler.go b/pkg/reconciler/reconciler.go
index a72df23d..595d0583 100644
--- a/pkg/reconciler/reconciler.go
+++ b/pkg/reconciler/reconciler.go
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ type Reconciler struct {
 	skipDependentWatches             bool
 	maxConcurrentReconciles          int
 	reconcilePeriod                  time.Duration
-	maxHistory                       int
+	maxReleaseHistory                *int
 	skipPrimaryGVKSchemeRegistration bool
 	controllerSetupFuncs             []ControllerSetupFunc
 
@@ -347,13 +347,15 @@ func WithReconcilePeriod(rp time.Duration) Option {
 }
 
 // WithMaxReleaseHistory specifies the maximum size of the Helm release history maintained
-// on upgrades/rollbacks. Zero (default) means unlimited.
+// on upgrades/rollbacks. Zero means unlimited.
+//
+// Defaults is 10
 func WithMaxReleaseHistory(maxHistory int) Option {
 	return func(r *Reconciler) error {
 		if maxHistory < 0 {
 			return errors.New("maximum Helm release history size must not be negative")
 		}
-		r.maxHistory = maxHistory
+		r.maxReleaseHistory = &maxHistory
 		return nil
 	}
 }
@@ -745,9 +747,9 @@ func (r *Reconciler) getReleaseState(client helmclient.ActionInterface, obj meta
 	}
 
 	var opts []helmclient.UpgradeOption
-	if r.maxHistory > 0 {
+	if *r.maxReleaseHistory > 0 {
 		opts = append(opts, func(u *action.Upgrade) error {
-			u.MaxHistory = r.maxHistory
+			u.MaxHistory = *r.maxReleaseHistory
 			return nil
 		})
 	}
@@ -801,9 +803,9 @@ func (r *Reconciler) doInstall(actionClient helmclient.ActionInterface, u *updat
 
 func (r *Reconciler) doUpgrade(actionClient helmclient.ActionInterface, u *updater.Updater, obj *unstructured.Unstructured, vals map[string]interface{}, log logr.Logger) (*release.Release, error) {
 	var opts []helmclient.UpgradeOption
-	if r.maxHistory > 0 {
+	if *r.maxReleaseHistory > 0 {
 		opts = append(opts, func(u *action.Upgrade) error {
-			u.MaxHistory = r.maxHistory
+			u.MaxHistory = *r.maxReleaseHistory
 			return nil
 		})
 	}
@@ -935,6 +937,11 @@ func (r *Reconciler) addDefaults(mgr ctrl.Manager, controllerName string) error
 	if r.valueMapper == nil {
 		r.valueMapper = internalvalues.DefaultMapper
 	}
+
+	if r.maxReleaseHistory == nil {
+		r.maxReleaseHistory = &internalvalues.DefaultMaxReleaseHistory
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/reconciler/reconciler_test.go b/pkg/reconciler/reconciler_test.go
index b0143975..f2ff8508 100644
--- a/pkg/reconciler/reconciler_test.go
+++ b/pkg/reconciler/reconciler_test.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
 	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
 	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega/gstruct"
 	sdkhandler "github.com/operator-framework/operator-lib/handler"
 	"helm.sh/helm/v3/pkg/action"
 	"helm.sh/helm/v3/pkg/chart"
@@ -216,11 +217,11 @@ var _ = Describe("Reconciler", func() {
 		_ = Describe("WithMaxReleaseHistory", func() {
 			It("should set the max history size", func() {
 				Expect(WithMaxReleaseHistory(10)(r)).To(Succeed())
-				Expect(r.maxHistory).To(Equal(10))
+				Expect(r.maxReleaseHistory).To(PointTo(Equal(10)))
 			})
 			It("should allow setting the history to unlimited", func() {
 				Expect(WithMaxReleaseHistory(0)(r)).To(Succeed())
-				Expect(r.maxHistory).To(Equal(0))
+				Expect(r.maxReleaseHistory).To(PointTo(Equal(0)))
 			})
 			It("should fail if value is less than 0", func() {
 				Expect(WithMaxReleaseHistory(-1)(r)).NotTo(Succeed())